Update 5-30-2007
EMERGENCY: PLEASE HELP SAVE DELTA SMELT
The reasons include both pesticides and the fish sucked into the pumps that export Delta water. But the State Department of Water Resources has appealed a court decision that held that excessive water exports from the Delta were killing species, without a permit, and in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Governor Schwarzenegger cancelled a meeting when he heard that the delta smelt trawl results would be discussed.
Please tell state officials that they must take immediate action. The Center for Biological Diversity's website lets you click to send an email telling the state of consider smelt as endangered - go to www.biologicaldiversity.org and click on "Help Save the Delta Smelt."
The Planning and Conservation League (www.pcl.org) asks that you contact the governor: voice 916-445-2841; fax 916-445-4633; email via http://www.govmail.ca.gov. They also have an emergency plan to try to save the Delta Smelt; contact mmcintyre@pcl.org for details.
JUNE 4 UPPER CODORNICES WALK
JUNE 9 CERRITO CREEK WORK PARTY
PLANT FOSTER CARE NEEDED
Events of others
JUNE 3 GREENING ALBANY EVENT
JUNE 8 DEADLINE FOR MONTEREY AQUARIUM OCEAN PHOTO CONTEST
WORKSHOP ON NATIVE GRASSES
VOLUNTEER TO HELP NATIVE OYSTERS
I'll be out of town June 5-23rd. F5C has no July meeting, but work parties and Weekday Weed Warriors continue. Enjoy your summer; see you soon!
Susan Schwartz
I rarely start these bulletins with something other than F5C events. But as the news carries daily headlines on two whales astray in the Delta, a very much smaller denizen, the Delta smelt, seems on its way to rapid extinction. On May 18, Endangered Species Day, news came that this nearly translucent little fish with a one-year lifespan, once an abundant link in the Delta's rich food chain, has declined another 93% from 2006's historic lows. In fact, the Department of Fish and Game's spring trawls found just 25 fish. At 26 of 29 trawling areas, no smelt were caught at all. California listed smelt as "threatened" in 1993 - and has refused to change that to "endangered," even though populations are now less than 2% of levels then. Other fish in the Delta are also declining -- 12 species have been eliminated or are threatened with extinction, and there are strong indications of an ecological crash of the entire Delta food web.
Please join us at 6:30 pm Monday, June 4, at the entrance to Berkeley's Rose Garden, west side of Euclid Avenue south of Eunice Street, for a fairly challenging walk exploring Upper Codornices Creek. We'll see waterfalls, rocks, and, if fog cooperates, the sunset, ending with drinks and snacks at dusk. This walk gains about 500 feet elevation and includes hillside staircases and narrow, uneven trails. Wear sturdy shoes; bring walking sticks if you use them; bring water; dress in layers. A flashlight is a good idea just in case.
On June 9, for National River Clean-Up Week, we'll hunt for litter along Cerrito Creek - and save good stuff for a "litter man" parade costume. We'll also continue our wonderful progress curbing the invasives that were choking out biodiversity and increasing flood danger. Meet at 10 am at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Street, El Cerrito. (From Central, between San Pablo and I-880, turn south on Santa Clara toward Albany Hill.The street ends at the park. By bus, take AC Transit 72 to San Pablo and Carlson and walk west 1/2 block on Carlson. At Tulip Flooring, jog south on the Adams Street stub and follow the creekside walkway west to the park. It's also a short walk from El Cerrito Plaza BART.) I'll be out of town -- for information contact Krishna Feldman, krishnafeldman@earthlink.net.
Volunteer Lloyd Andres is doing a wonderful job raising natives to plant at our restoration sites in fall. He needs to move 25-30 Scrophularia plants in gallons out to make room for others. We need one or more volunteers to care for these and other plants until fall - they are tough; all you need to do is water them every few days. Please get in touch with me ASAP if you can help - f5creeks@aol.com or 510 848 9358.
The East Bay Green Chamber of Commerce sponsors Greening Albany, with guest speakers including Assemblymember Loni Hancock and Sierra Magazine's "Hey Mr. Green" Bob Schildgen and booths with ideas on how you can combat global warming, 11 am - 2 pm Sunday, June 3, al AlbanyMiddle School, 1259 Brighton. It's right next to the Ohlone Greenway - fun to come by bike or foot! Free; information at albanygreenteam@gmail.com.
You have until 8:30 am June 8 to upload photos that show how the ocean inspires you, or the importance of conserving oceans, for the Monterey Bay Aquarium's photo contest; instructions at http://www.mbayaq.org/contest/photo/.
Deadline is June 5 to register for the California Native Grasslands Association's June 9-10 Point Reyes Grass ID Workshop, with classroom and field instruction on the rich coastal prairie of northern and central California. Information and registration forms at Information and registration forms are at www.cnga.org.
Save the Bay is looking for volunteers 9 am - 3 pm June 6, 8, and 13 to monitor how well oysters settle in on various surfaces, as part of a multi-year effort to restore the Bay's native Olympia oysters. Information at www.savesfbay.org; click on "volunteer" and then "oyster restoration."